Utilizing Residual Biomass from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Scope for Value Enhancement

The burgeoning demand for natural products from medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) has led to a surge in cultivation, generating significant post-harvest residual biomass. Agro and industrial processes involving MAPs yield diverse residues, including residual biomasses from aromatic plant distillation and untapped components of medicinal plants. Contrary to their conventional designation as waste, these residual biomasses hold immense potential for repurposing and conversion into value-added products. Consequently, the strategic enhancement of these residues through advanced methodologies such as processing, extraction, hydrolysis, pyrolysis, and fermentation emerges as a captivating avenue, particularly for the less-explored aspects of medicinal plants and byproducts resulting from aromatic plant distillation. The inherent suitability of these biomasses for isolating antioxidant rich phenolics makes them valuable in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and perfumery. Post-phytochemical extraction, the residual biomass serves as animal feed or organic mulch. Additionally, it can be transformed into biosorbents, composts, and biochar for wastewater purification and soil amendment. The chapter integrates lab-scale technologies with industrial deployment, showcasing the practicality of these applications. Efficient biomass recycling not only addresses waste disposal but also brings strategic and practical benefits beyond economic considerations.